What probability distribution functions tell us about the processes of star formation

N. Schneider; V. Ossenkopf; R.S. Klessen; T. Csengeri; P. Girichidis; C. Federrath; P. Tremblin; S. Bontemps; N. Peretto; R. Simon

doi:10.1051/eas/1575031

All issues

Volume 75-76 (2015)

EAS Publications Series, 75-76 (2015) 175-176

Abstract

Issue		EAS Publications Series Volume 75-76, 2015 Conditions and Impact of Star Formation


Page(s)		175 - 176
Section		Star Formation: Physical and Chemical Conditions, Feedback
DOI		https://doi.org/10.1051/eas/1575031
Published online		20 May 2016

Conditions and Impact of Star Formation
R. Simon, R. Schaaf and J. Stutzki (eds)
EAS Publications Series, 75–76 (2015) 175-176

What probability distribution functions tell us about the processes of star formation

N. Schneider¹, V. Ossenkopf¹, R.S. Klessen³, T. Csengeri⁴, P. Girichidis⁵, C. Federrath⁶, P. Tremblin⁷, S. Bontemps², N. Peretto⁸ and R. Simon¹

¹ I. Physik. Institut, Cologne, Germany
² LAB/OASU Bordeaux, France
³ Zentrum für Astronomie, Universität Heidelberg, Germany
⁴ MPIfR Bonn, Germany
⁵ MPA, Garching, Germany
⁶ Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Canberra, Australia
⁷ Maison de la Simulation, CEA Saclay, France
⁸ School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff, UK

e-mail: nschneid@ph1.uni-koeln.de

Abstract

Probability distribution functions of column density (N-PDFs) are used to evaluate the relative importance of gravity, turbulence, magnetic fields, geometry, and radiative feedback governing the cloud's density structure and star-formation activity. These proce- sses influence the N-PDF and thus determine their shape, ranging from a purely lognormal distribution to one with power-law tail(s).